Raid nets packaged drugs, possible dealer

Day planner may be link to customers, cash flow

Police recovered quantities of three different drugs and items believed to be connected to distribution in a raid on a Washington Street home Thursday.

Craig Police Chief Walt Vanatta said the search of the home at 354 Washington St. and the arrest of Charlotte Corral, 36, was precipitated by information from a related case.

"Information developed in a different case, which confirmed intelligence we already had," Vanatta said. "That led to the issuance of the search warrant."

During a recent case in which a Craig man was acquitted of distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana, his defense tried to persuade the jury of the suspect's innocence by noting that certain key items were not discovered. Ledgers listing customers and debts, large amounts of cash, and pre-packaged quantities of drugs for sale were not found. The man was found not guilty drug trafficking.

In Thursday's raid, however, officers found suspected customer ledgers, "a large amount of cash," and pre-packaged drugs presumably for sale, according to court documents.

Officers discovered a day planner with potentially incriminating evidence of suspected drug dealing.

"The day planner contained names of customers as well money amounts owed to Corral. There were also several locations inside the day planner that gave drug prices, i.e. $1,200 per ounce and $600 per half-ounce," the affidavit states. "There was also a large amount of cash found in the day planner -- $1,448 in several denominations."

Officers discovered a laptop that was reported stolen from a Craig man in June. They found a .9mm Makarov handgun reported as stolen to Craig police in July.

According to court documents, officers found a Dr. Pepper can in Corral's residence that contained baggies of powder. When officers asked if the powder was "coke or meth," Corral allegedly told them it was "coke." She allegedly said the can contained "a half ounce, or 10 grams." Corral refused to speak further and was transported to the Moffat County Jail.

Police found 11.25 grams of powder, which tested "presumptively positive" for cocaine. They also found more than nine ounces of marijuana and 1.87 grams of a powder presumed to be methamphetamine.

Corral posted a 20,000 bond Thursday and was released from jail. She will formally be advised of her charges in Moffat County Court Dec. 9.

Corral is charged with possession and distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. She also faces two charges of theft by receiving and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jeremy Browning can be reached at 824-7031 or jbrowning@craigdailypress.com